A new alien mantis in Italy: is the Indochina mantis Hierodula patellifera chasing the train for Europe?

Abstract

The presence of the Indochina mantis Hierodula patellifera (Mantidae, Mantinae) as a new alien species in Italy is reported, with the description of the first stable macro-population in Europe. This macro-population shows a wide distribution, comprising several fragmented and reproducing sub-populations in Northern Italy and one in Southern France. Specimens and individuals were collected or observed on trees and ornamentals in urban ecosystems with the help of citizen science. A spatial analysis (Average Nearest Neighbour) was undertaken to characterise the present distribution pattern, evidencing the hot spots of arrival and the local spreading process. The random pattern of presence in the local urban textures and the resistance of this species to the challenging North Italian climate, are here discussed in the perspective of a future expansion to central and Northern Europe, using probably the main railways to arrive at depots and cities, travelling with Asian goods. Identification characters are also presented to separate this alien species from the other species of the subfamily Mantinae, native or introduced, present in Europe. ‡ § | ¶ ¶ #

Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure, 1869 (Mantodea: mantidae) has settled down in Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…All our specimens were found on vertical surfaces, wall or trees, which corresponds to the more arboreal habits of Hierodula mantises (Battiston et al, 2018;2020).…”

“…From other large green Mantidae species known from Europe -Hierodula patellifera Serville 1839, Mantis religiosa Linnaeus, 1758; Sphodromantis viridis (Forskål, 1775) -H. tenuidentata can be separated by combination of the following characters: 1) the presence of white stigmas on tegmina (Figure 3a); 2) the absence of black or black-ringed spots on the inner side of the front coxae (Figure 3b); 3) short pronotum without an evident narrowing before the supracoxal dilation (Figure 3b-e); 4) inner margin of front coxae with large yellowish spines that are lacking yellow basal plates (Fig. 3b) and 5) the morphology of male genitalia (Battiston et al, 2019;2020). Entomol.…”

“…The specimens were visually observed and collected by hand on 22 nd and 23 rd August. They were identified based on keys provided in Battiston et al (2019;2020). Alien mantid H. tenuidentata is recorded for the first time for Bosnia and Herzegovina.…”

First record of the alien mantid Hierodula tenuidentata (Insecta: Mantodea) in Romania

“…3). Not only Hierodula tenuidentata was recently recorded from a few European countries, two other similar allochthonous mantis species have been reported as well: Sphodromantis viridis Forsskål, 1775 (Schwarz andEhrmann 2018, Battiston et al 2020b) and Hierodula patellifera Serville, 1839 (Moulin 2020;Battiston et al 2020a). H. pattelifera has bigger, conspicuous whitish plates at the base of the spines of inner margins of fore coxae, while H. tenuidentata has smaller, less evident whitish plates.…”

First records of three exotic giant mantid species on the Croatian coast

“…Identification and systematics.-The collected specimens were identified based on the morphological characteristics described in Battiston et al (2019Battiston et al ( , 2020b. At first glance, giant mantids of the genera Sphodromantis and Hierodula can be distinguished from the native, similarly sized Iris oratoria (Linnaeus, 1758) or Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) by the presence of white-colored stigmas on the tegmina (Figs 2A, 3A, 4C).…”